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PHOTO CONTEST
FREE PAGE
THE OCT/NOV ISSUE OF CANADIAN SIMMENTAL COUNTRY
PHOTO CONTEST RULES
• Photos must be emailed to Sue Giles (sgiles@simmental.com) by August 14, 2026
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• All photos submitted will become property of the Canadian Simmental Association There will now be a separate contest just for YSCA member photo entries!
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• All photos entered also have a chance to be on the cover of the FCSF Auction catalogue!
• Winning YSCA photo will be featured on a page in the Oct/Nov issue!
BY ROXANE LIEVERSE CFP, MBA, LLM Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Simmental Association
As I write this article, I’m heading home from our Annual General Meeting and National Classic in beautiful Nova Scotia. The hospitality of the Maritime Simmental Association is unmatched, and high praise goes to Lacey Fischer, Ella Lentz, and all the committee members who helped organize such an amazing event.
That warm welcome in Nova Scotia is nothing new, though—it’s the same hospitality I’ve received from so many members who have hosted me over the past several months. Whether it was an amazing visit with the Dimler family of Grenfell, SK, AI’ing with the Harvie family of Mountain View County, AB, or touring the Forage Centre of Excellence at our YCSA TEAMS Conference, everyone has been so welcoming. My goal has been to meet as many members as possible and build a communication system that lets members share feedback with the CSA directly. Thank you to everyone who has opened their doors to me over the last several months.
Looking ahead to the coming months, I’m excited to share some of the changes underway at the CSA. Our Registry staff have been working hard to improve processes and workflows, including expanding digital options for members and improving turnaround times and consistency. We’ve seen significant improvement in our DNA shipments, with no delays reported over the last few months. The CSA is also pleased to help members interested in TSUs with a discount on both applicators and vials until end of September. We’re also excited to share that we’re redesigning our website and Simmental Country, with more exciting details to come in the near future.
In the months ahead, we’ll continue rolling out enhancements focused on improving turnaround times, efficiency, and reducing operational costs.
With the rising cost of everything—especially postage—the CSA is working to build a fiscally prudent operating model that serves all members consistently. We also need to think longer-term about rising wage and overhead costs at our office. The changes we’re making today will serve us well for years to come. We’re striving to strike a balance between maintaining a high level of member service and helping members adopt more self-serve options. It won’t be easy, but these changes are necessary to keep the Registry accessible and cost-effective.
All the efficiency improvements you’ll hear about in the coming months are aligned with one goal: building a more resilient CSA. That said, if we don’t get something exactly right, please reach out and share your perspective—I encourage members to pick up the phone and call us. We’re here to support and serve you.
In closing, thank you to our 2026 AGM and National Classic hosts, and to everyone who sponsored or showed up to support our amazing Foundation Auction and National Classic. The Simmental community is unmatched in its generosity and kinship.
As we head into the balance of 2026, I want to leave you with a quote from Churchill: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Simmental breeders are, broadly, optimists—so let’s embrace that possibility and the changes needed for our longer-term future.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR SUMMER.
BREED IMPROVEMENT
BY SEAN MCGRATH
Breed Improvement Coordinator for the Canadian Simmental Association
MATERNAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Simmental breed is well known for its’ maternal abilities. This represents a key investment area for the CSA on behalf of membership, to maintain and build on this maternal strength.
A lot of maternal function can be determined through careful observation, however there are some existing and new tools being developed to help in the process of identifying profit centred maternal cattle.
This includes genetic evaluations for Maternal Calving Ease (the ability of a female to calve unassisted as a heifer), Stayability (the probability of a female reaching age 6 in the herd), and Mature Weight (available on animals through the online member portal).
These tools begin to represent to cost portion of the production equation rather than just the income side (growth/carcass).
These tools are also enhanced with genomics to provide the ability to increase accuracy in selection. For example, inclusion of a high-density DNA test in the evaluation provides an amount of information like a dam having 15 daughters in production. This allows us to assess maternal characteristics much more accurately at a younger age.
All these tools have been developed through data collection and reporting by members. At first, this process may seem slow and is a bit of a chicken and egg.
We require data to build prediction models for traits of interest, but it is sometimes difficult to see why we would collect the data if there is no EPD or Selection tool in existence.
Currently, CSA is working through data reported by membership for inclusion in a heifer pregnancy evaluation. This EPD describes the relative fertility of daughters kept for breeding.
Additional data that CSA members have collected includes calf vigour, maternal ability and teat and udder scores at calving.
While these traits do not have EPD associated with them today, the data for these traits are foundational to development of future maternal selection tools.
CSA is also working on development of new reporting tools to provide herd and individual animal summaries of various maternal traits.
While these are provided as management reports, rather than an EPD, they can help to add value to the data and provide management insights to member herds.
Maternal strength is a cornerstone of the Simmental breed and programs such as THE, where every breeding female and her ultimate breeding result is reported each year have established Simmental as a leader in the field. As we progress through the addition of new maternal tools, the opportunity to provide profit opportunities to our customers’ cowherds also grows.
This is an exciting opportunity for Simmental genetics as a cornerstone of our Canadian beef industry.
Members are encouraged to watch for new tools and to check out their herd EPD in the online member portal to view new additions to the genetic evaluations and new reporting tools.
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1:00 PM EST | 13h
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026
SIMMENTAL HAVE ALWAY BEEN PART OF ROBERT LIND’S FARMING LIFE
You might wonder how a 10-year-old west-central Alberta farm boy with an entrepreneurial spirit, could manage to parlay raising and selling rabbits into what became a 50-year career of producing Simmental cattle.
But for Robert Lind selling rabbits at local farm sales in the 1970s was an important albeit short-lived business venture that helped him get where he wanted to go.
“I sold rabbits for $1 a piece to be able to buy a female weaner pig from my dad for $20,” says Lind, who was born and raised and continues to live at Buck Creek, southwest of Edmonton. “When she was old enough, I had the gilt bred and then sold her and her 13 piglets. That gave me enough money to buy a cross-bred Simmental heifer calf.”
And with that heifer calf he began to build a small commercial beef herd. “Back in the 70’s there were several AI Technicians in Alberta like Alex Mills of Olds who worked for Alberta Breeders who would contract commercial cattle herds from farmers and have them bred by AI to Simmental bulls,” says Lind. “There started to be a few halfblood Simmental calves being produced in those days and that’s how I came across my first half-blood Simmental calf that I bought at our local auction market.”
In raising that calf and eventually getting her bred and producing more heifers, Lind was able to turn that investment into a small herd of commercial Simmental cross cattle.
“Right from the start as a 10-year-old I just liked Simmental cattle,” he says. “We always had cattle on our farm which were the traditional British breeds, but when Simmental came along in Alberta, they were different. They were bigger, easy fleshing, produced lots of milk, very quiet and we later learned as you start crossing them with other breeds there was definitely an increase in weaning weights.”
Robert’s grandfather, Sven Lind, immigrated from Orebro Sweden in 1927 and homesteaded in the Buck Creek area.
Robert’s father, Lawrence Lind, was born in 1934 and he homesteaded land adjacent to Sven in 1954 where Robert was born and raised. The farm always raised cattle.
In 1988 Robert married Carol and they bought land adjacent to the original homestead which will celebrate 100 years of the Lind family name at Buck Creek in 2027. While he got involved in different careers over the years, he continues to this day to raise Simmental cattle.
When he was 17, he bought an oilfield tank truck, servicing the Alberta oilpatch. He operated that business for about 20 years all the while expanding and buying more land and improving on the commercial Simmental beef herd.
In 1988 he bought his first purebred Simmental bred heifer for $1,700 from Gary Sparshu at Farm Fair in Edmonton that year.
“I continued to buy a few purebred heifers every year and go to many purebred sales every fall,” he says. “I would always attend the Transcon Simmsational 2-Day Bred Heifer Sale in Regina and would buy a few bred heifers every year.”
In 1989 the Linds started their purebred business by establishing Timber Meadows Simmentals at Buck Creek. As part of that they showed cattle at several shows around Alberta including FarmFair in Edmonton and the Calgary Stampede each year.
“At one of our first shows, the Drayton Valley Livestock Show, we had the Grand Champion Heifer” he says. “We had bull calf division champion in FarmFair one year and sold that bull to zacatecas Mexico. We then started selling bulls each year at the Transcon Red Deer Bull Sale. Later on, we started an annual bull sale on our farm which we held for 10 years until our purebred dispersal in 2010”.
With long-time thoughts of being an auctioneer, Lind started another career in 1998 as he attended the Western School of Auctioneering in Calgary. He was named class president of the school that year, and after graduation went on to win the Tyro Auctioneer Championship in 1999 which is a competition for new auctioneers.
At that same convention of the Alberta Auctioneers Association, he was elected a director and later served as the president. A few years ago, the association presented him with the Distinguished Service Award.
He created Timberlind Auctions in the spring of 1999 with their first machinery consignment sale held on the May long weekend on the farm at Buck Creek. The next consignment sale was held the September long weekend. Both of those sales are still happening today.
Soon after graduation from auctioneer school he got involved in livestock sales.
“In the fall of 1998, Transcon Livestock gave me the opportunity to start working ring service at their purebred sales,” he says. “The first purebred sale that I got to sell was the McDougall Cattle Sale in April 1999.“
The relationship with Transcon, that has continued for nearly 30 years, has taken him to Simmental sales across Canada from Abbotsford, B.C. to Chester Basin, Nova Scotia.
As he launched his auctioneer career and was still running the purebred Simmental operation on his home farm, he needed to cutback on commitments and sold the tank truck oilfield service business in 2000.
As demand for his auctioneering services grew over the years, he decided to simplify the livestock operation at home. After 20 years of building Timber Meadows Simmentals, he had a complete herd dispersal in 2010. That didn’t mean he was out of the cattle business. He and Carol continue to run a commercial Simmental herd at the farm.
“We have a small commercial cow-calf herd, and we also buy some feeder cattle in the spring which we pasture over summer and sell in the fall,” he says. “And to make things a little simpler we switched from a January calving season to an April/May calving season.“
While running the farm, a purebred beef herd, an oilfield tank truck service and auctioneering services may seem like more than enough ventures to keep a person busy, Lind also found time for other interests as well.
From 1996 to 2002 he served as the director and president of the Alberta Simmental Association. From 2002 – 2005 he served as a director for the Canadian Simmental Association Board.
In 2009 he was presented with the Alberta Simmental Purebred Ambassador Award which recognizes long-term dedication, hard work, and promotion of the Simmental breed in Alberta’s purebred industry, At the community level he was involved in 1991 in helping launch the Drayton Valley Livestock Show. Serving on the board and as president for a total of 20 years.
Running along in the background of these other activities was a 20year involvement on the rodeo circuit.
“I started out riding steers when I was 13 and then later rode bulls and bareback horses travelling the circuits,” says Lind. “I competed for about 20 years retiring when I was 33. I am pleased to say that over those years I did win a few buckles.“
While he doesn’t compete anymore, he still supports rodeos. He has announced and judged at a few rodeos over the years. And for the past five years Timberlind Auctions has sponsored seven Alberta Pro Saddle Bronc Riders.
“We believe in supporting these young cowboys so that they can travel the rodeo circuit as it is quite expensive to travel across North America to make it to the finals,” says Lind. “They are some of the top professional saddle bronc riders in the world and some have made the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton and the Calgary Stampede where you may have seen the Timberlind Auctions logo.”
Lind has always had great enjoyment and appreciation for Simmental cattle. On the purebred side he started out raising full blood Simmentals and then as polled genetics came along he switched to raising red factor Simmentals.
“Commercial producers were interested in cattle with no horns,” he says. “Around 2005 we began raising Red Simmentals with a white blaze on the face which was easy by putting the red factor bulls on our Fullblood cows.
“That is what we liked to see in our cattle, that white blaze on the face to show that they were the Simmental breed and it appealed to our customers as well. We liked raising the bigger Fullblood cattle. Many of our cows were 1,800 pounds and with lots of feed in this area, they weaned calves in the 800-to-900-pound range.
Today many of the Simmental cows are a more moderate size, which works better for many commercial operations.”
While breeders have done an excellent job in producing highly productive more moderate size cattle, he has noticed in the last couple years there has been a stronger interest in Fullblood Simmentals.
“As beef prices are up some producers are interested in producing calves with those extra pounds at weaning,” he says.
“Wolfe Farms at Valleyview, Alberta for example are long time producers of Fleckvieh cattle both horned and polled. In December, I sold their bull and female sale which was the highest grossing sale in all of Canada at $2,595,950.”
Today, auction sales keep Lind on the go most of the year. Working with Transcon and other cattle breeders in 2026, he worked at 27 bull sales mostly in winter and early spring, and 15 female sales in the fall. He also runs about 20 farm sales each year between April and October in Alberta and he organizes farm machinery consignment sales held at the sale yard on the farm.
“It has been a life with great variety,” says Lind. “We’ve raised commercial and purebred cattle, been involved in providing oilpatch services, still follow the Pro rodeo circuit when we can, and sold Simmental cattle from one side of the country to the other providing auctioneer services.
We’ve had many great experiences and met many great people along the way in the cattle industry.
There are no plans to retire and enjoy visiting with all the cattle people at every sale that I am working at. I have always believed in the Simmental breed. My motto would be “Breed ‘em all Simmental.”
CANADIAN CATTLE ASSOCIATION
BY TYLER FULTON Canadian Cattle Association President
GETTING READY FOR FALL
It’s hard to believe that we are already heading into fall. Summer presents many opportunities for CCA to advance our advocacy and policy priorities through meetings, events, and often hosting MPs, Senators and Ministers on tours.
The timing of this column presents an opportunity to share an update on achievements this year and priorities for fall.
In April, we launched an aggressive campaign to raise awareness about trade negotiations between Canada and Mercosur that could see a massive increase in imports of Mercosur beef. Mercosur is the Southern Common Market (called MERCOSUR for its Spanish initials).
It is a South American economic and political trade bloc established in 1991 and comprised of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Increased imports would incentivize beef production on the other side of the world, disincentive cattle production and herd rebuilding in Canada, and would have no impact on the price of beef in Canada.
At a time when the federal government is investing in food security, increased trade with Mercosur that would allow increased beef imports does not make sense. If you have not already joined our campaign, there is still time!
Thank you to everyone who visited www.cattle. ca/mercosur and sent a message to their MP, Minister of International Trade, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Throughout the summer we have seen producers share information to increase consumer awareness, and we appreciate your help.
Trade is always a priority area of focus for CCA given the export-heavy nature of our industry. For the last year, we focused on the Canada-United StatesMexico Agreement (CUSMA) review, ensuring governments are fully informed on the integration
of the North American beef cattle market and the importance of continued free trade. We continue to support a tariff-free integrated North American beef and cattle market.
That includes making ourselves available to negotiators to answer questions as they arise during the review process.
There was positive trade news to celebrate in January when Canadian beef access to China was restored after being wrongfully shut out in 2021. The Chinese market presents significant opportunities to add carcass value as the majority of exports are for cuts that are not desired in North America.
Following our AGM in March, we announced that we would convene a Task Force to work for producers on a risk-based, industry-led approach to disease preparedness and emergency management.
The task force was announced in early June; see www.cattle.ca/beef-cattle-traceability-taskforce-is-established-immediately-assessingopportunities-and-barriers-to-traceability for details if you missed the announcement.
It is important to reiterate that CCA genuinely recognizes the importance of traceability for the industry.
We need to have readily analyzable data that allows a rapid and effective disease investigation. Our ability to contain and eliminate disease, and prove our return to a disease-free status, is what will re-open negotiations with trading partners in the event of an outbreak. We understand that an effective system is both simple to understand and easy to participate in.
CCA and the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) also announced in June that we have reached an interim participation agreement following motions passed in principle by the CCA at our Annual General Meeting.
The agreement follows CCA’s agreement-inprinciple to bylaw reforms recommended by the Provincial Working Group, which includes representatives from each of CCA’s provincial member organizations. These recommendations will be presented again for approval at CCA’s SemiAnnual Meeting in August.
As we head into fall, feedback from the Beef Cattle Code of Practice Public Comment Period is being reviewed and assessed.
Thank you to everyone who took time to participate and share input. This document describing how beef cattle are cared for and handled is an important resource for producers, policymakers, the public, the value chain and animal welfare and enforcement agencies looking to gauge industry standards for beef cattle production in Canada.
The Code Committee is now reviewing all feedback received and we anticipate the new Code will be released in early 2027. If you did not participate in the comment period, the next Code review will take place five years after new draft Code is released, likely in 2032.
Another topic that is top of mind as we head into fall is Business Risk Management programs and sufficient supports.
CCA had many opportunities to share concerns and ideas with Members of Parliament and advocate for the industry at the Calgary Stampede and the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ag Ministers meeting in Halifax.
The 60-day public comment period for proposed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Relating to Harmonization of the Enhanced Feed Ban ends September 9.
After years of ongoing advocacy, CCA and the Canadian Meat Council issued a joint news release sharing that we are encouraged by the proposed amendments to Canada’s specified risk material (SRM) requirements, published in Canada Gazette Part I in July.
The proposed changes better align Canada with the science-based, negligible BSE risk status it has held since 2021—the same status held by the United States. Canada requires about 57 kilograms of SRM removal per carcass versus 3 kilograms in the U.S.
These outdated requirements cost our industry an estimated $31.7 million annually. We are hopeful that the proposed regulations will be finalized early this fall.
Stay informed about CCA’s activities: Website: www.cattle.ca
Sign up for CCA’s bi-weekly newsletter, Action News at www.cattle.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CanCattle
Twitter/X: https://x.com/CanCattle
In May, CCA was joined by representatives from the National Cattle Feeders Association and MPs from the Conservative and Block Quebecois for a press conference expressing concerns about expanded access for beef in a possible trade agreement with Mercosur.
Representatives from CCA, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in the U.S. and Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas in Mexico meet regularly. Advocacy efforts related to continued open trade and access for beef and cattle among and across our countries are always a priority.
CCA staff joined Alberta Beef Producers at their annual ABP Summit during Calgary Stampede. A number of politicians and political staff were in attendance and available for brief conversations about policy priorities.
VET’S ADVICE
BY ROY LEWIS, DVM
HYDROPS TESTING CLINICAL DESCRIPTION AND OTHER HEREDITARY DEFECTS UNDERSTOOD
The CSA is going to make available a genetic test to see if any animal is a carrier of a gene responsible for a hydrops pregnancy.
The CSA is dovetailing off of the American Simmental Association. With the two associations sharing lots of genetics back and forth across the border this is a great thing to recognize first off, a congenital defect and then if increasing frequency exploring if there a hereditary component.
This takes time and numbers, and first off purebred breeders need to realize by reporting these initially one-off conditions that if a hereditary component is found stamping that out of a purebred line is the right thing to do. Some of these conditions are very minor and others are severe such as a hydrops pregnancy.
This hydrops condition was first recognized by the Nebraska Bovine Congenital Defects program and kudos to them for keeping an eye out for these types of aberrations. They recognized that a common denominator of daughters or granddaughters of a well-known bull WS All Aboard B 80. It is when there are enough offspring born that trends regarding abnormalities may be seen.
For this reason, first off check your pedigrees to see if this well-known sire is in it. I realize now he is older, but the issue was he needed to have daughters that were bred and then develop this condition. That in and of itself is a four-year process.
Hydrops is basically an abnormal pregnancy resulting in an abnormality of everly increasing fluid in late pregnancy.
The female gets to be as big as a house with the fluid and yet will be very thin. The best way I can describe these pregnancies are that it looks like a heifer or first calver that is carrying decent sized twins in late pregnancy and the twins seem to be robbing the cow of nutrition as the spine can be very evident of the weight loss.
Cow may have difficulty rising and the swelling is evident on both sides and below.
Sometimes rupture of the prepubic tendon happens to give a dropped look to the belly. The pressure internally from all the fluid may be putting lots of pressure on the diaphragm so difficulty breaking and the cow does not look good. If you or your veterinarian recognizes this condition the cow maybe induced often resulting in a stillborn calf but the goal at this stage is to potentially save the cow.
They may get so thin, and even with inducing the cow, can go on to die. Very troubling times, and fortunately have been very rare in my eyes over the years.
The other thing is on calving the water bag will release gallons upon gallons of fluids. This will seem abnormal to you as normally we see a few gallons of fluid come out but not tens and tens of gallons. Usually, the calf is nonviable and I would say smaller than normal.
If there is any question of an abnormal pregnancy along this line, the Simmental Association would like you to test. Also, it has been proven to be a recessive type of inheritance and again showing up clinically in the females. Bulls are simply a carrier, but their daughters could then be susceptible.
The best way is to have offspring from this bull tested. If not carrying the gene you are good if carrying the gene and, in a female, best to cull as she could develop the hydrops condition. If a bull is positive, he could potentially be used in a terminal breeding situation whereby no heifers are saved unless they are tested.
That way over time we quickly stamp out the gene. This bull I believe was a red calving ease sire so if his offspring are NOT carrying the gene they can be used fully for the rest of their breeding lives. I want to be clear this is no one’s fault but a condition that started rather spontaneously with this sire.
This is why especially when these oddball congenital defects show up we need, as breeders and veterinarians, a protocol or method to submit for testing. Most of these things are a fluke but if their incidence crops up, they are not a fluke and checking into and in some cases weeding out a genetic line will help all breeders in North America or the world for that matter.
With semen sales and embryos in some cases marketed all over the world we all need to do the right thing. That, though, is also not jumping to rash conclusions.
Many forms of inheritance and sometimes I have seen a few conditions tied together.
It is good for the association if we mention them. Most experienced producers and experienced veterinarians have seen many different things over the years, but nowadays, with more and more genetic information and testing out there these problems can either be solved or truly called incidental.
Over the years, from two headed calves, hydrocephalus, calves with extra limbs, to cleft palates to hearts with septal defects and cyclopian calves. Most are congenital flukes seen in all different breeds, crossbred animals etc. but if incidence suddenly goes up a bit, then we need to as an association explore.
Just as an example, I had seen two hydrocephalus (water on the brain swollen heads) cases and heard of a couple others to a specific breeding. This was many, many years ago before genetic testing was really an option, but that breeding was eliminated because it looked suspicious. Today, those could be researched and likely a test developed as a few good animals were likely sacrificed that didn’t have to be.
These can come up rather spontaneously, which is why they can happen to anyone at anytime. The more we check the more we know and now with knowledge in genetic testing we can help everyone out do the absolute right thing.
This hydrops condition is a perfect example of this and again kudos to the original breeder and the American Simmental Association for researching and communicating this condition.
Again, many of you have likely not heard of it and it was a very rare condition indeed. I recall only 3 cases that I have seen in a very long veterinary cattle practice.
I don’t recall any in the last twenty years which is why when a few cases cropped up in the US and lead back to the one sire, they explored the problem.
If you have any specific questions about the testing, call the Simmental office as they will access the testing through the American Simmental Association - it will require a punch skin biopsy for testing.
I wanted to end on another heritable issue we see and manage well in the purebred world. Persistent frenulum’s are heritable but only affect the bulls.
This is the ligamentous tie down to the penis discovered at semen testing and snipped by your veterinarian and noted on the semen form. This has two ramifications first off; a commercial breeder should have zero concern.
Bull calves become steers and there is nothing on the female end as an equivalent. For a purebred breeder I would not advise buying one knowingly because it will result in more bull calves with the condition.
When I used to semen test big numbers of bulls would find maybe 1-2 % with this condition I think because of this careful genetic selection. They come in various forms and one day I perhaps will do a specific article on them.
Working with the geneticists we have today one can see problems can be found and solved but there will always be a few new things developing regardless of which breed.
It’s really a matter of being transparent, seeking advice if see something abnormal, and then allowing the association to help if there is a manageable problem.
With hair samples, you are 19.6× more likely to require a sample re-run, resulting in significantly longer turnaround times.
Hair samples are 43% more likely to fail compared to TSUs.
Hair samples require manual rework prior to testing, increasing overall processing time.
ANY ORDER PLACED BETWEEN NOW AND SEPT 30 WOULD RECEIVE $8.00 OFF THE APPLICATOR ( BRING THEM TO $100 ) , ALONG WITH FIVE FREE TSU VITALS. THIS ALIGNS WELL WITH THE 10 PACK OPTION, EFFECTIVELY MAKING IT A 50% COST.
Canadian Simmental Association #13 - 4101 - 19th St. NE, Calgary, Alberta Canada, T2E 7C4 (403) 250-7979 cansim@simmental.com
Simmentals in Annapolis Valley, NS - 2026 Thank
https://www.simmental.com/ycsaevents.html
SSA 56th Annual General Meeting
The SSA 56th Annual General Meeting took place in Weyburn July 18, 2026 in conjunction with the SYCSA Tiger Lily Classic. A great crowd was on hand to discuss the SSA Business and support the junior members with their Annual Show.
The SSA Board wishes to thank Dean Sentes as he retires from the SSA Board of Directors, for his time and commitment to the SSA Board, most recently as Vice President and SYCSA Liasion. Welcome to new director Mike Porter of Kinistino SK as he joins the SSA Board for a 3 year term and to re-elected directors Mark Beutler, Whitewood, SK and Hayley Labatte, Gladmar, SK.
MSA Fall Events
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our MSA Summer Events.
October 31 1st Annual Rich Mc Family Event Sale
November 7
Cherry Creek Farms Online Bull & Female Sale
November 16 Rainbow River Simmentals Online Sale
November 19
MSA SUMMER SHOW - MANITOU, MB
HOSTED BY: MANITOU AG FAIR
Champion Female: Big Sig Cattle Co. Reserve Champion: Female: Rafter J Cattle Co.
Champion Bull: Big Sky Simmentals Reserve Champion Bull: Boyne Valley / Wilcox Simmentals
FIELD DAY & AGM - MINNEDOSA, MB
HOSTED BY: HORNER CATTLE CO.
Pembina Triangle Simmental 46th Annual Sale
December 1
Keystone Konnection 48th Annual Sale
December 2
Maple Lake Stock Farms Fall Bred Heifer Sale
December 7
Northern Light Simmentals Bred Heifer & 2 Year-Old Bull Sale
December 8
Cream of the Crop Simmental Female Sale
December 9 Premium Picks Simmental Female Sale
December 11
Bred For Success 2nd Female Event
December 13 Bonchuk Farms Female Production Sale December 14 JP Cattle/RMR Fall Bull & Commercial Heifer Sale
December 22 Mar Mac Farms Simmental & Red Angus Dispersal
2026 Fall Sales
AUGUST 29
OSA Bus Tour in Central Ontario
Check out website for more info.
SEPTEMBER 12
Ontario Autumn Classic Simmental Sale Hanover, ON
SEPTEMBER 17
Next Generation Tag Sale Woodstock, ON
SEPTEMBER 26
Ferme Gagnon & Guests Production Sale Cheneville, QC
SEPTEMBER 27
Eastern Harvest Simmental Heifer Sale Sainte-Sophie-de Levard, QC
OCTOBER 3
Ontario Simmental Solution Sale Staffa, ON
OCTOBER 3
Futures One Simmental Online Sale Ennismore, ON
OCTOBER 4
IRCC Quality Control Sale Indian River, ON
OCTOBER 5
Koyle/Stewart/Miller 3rd Annual Online Sale Iona Station, ON
OCTOBER 13
Highwood’s Family Affair Online Sale Brome, QC
OCTOBER 17
Stars of the Valley Sale Metcalfe, ON
OCTOBER 18
RPCC and Guests Fall Gala Sale Glencoe, ON
OCTOBER 18
Dunraven Raising the Bar Sale Calumet Island, QC
NOVEMBER 14
Cattleman’s Choice Sale Campbellford, ON NOVEMBER 21
Prime Bred Heifer and Cow Sale Hanover,ON
Check out these sales for your next Simmental or Simmental Influenced female. Remember purchasing a registered Simmental from an OSA member enters you into a draw for one of 6 chances of winning $500!
www.labattesimmentals.com labatte.simm@sasktel.net
Ph: (306)969-4820
Cell: (306) 815-7900
B U S I N E S S CARDS
ADVERTISER’S INDEX
CSA EXECUTIVE
President
Randy Noble Lloydminster, AB P: (306) 821-0113 randyjoenoble@gmail.com
First Vice-President
Ben Farrant
Lousana, AB P: 403-896-4331 redtopagventures@gmail.com
Second Vice-President
Barclay Smith Cherhill, AB P: (780) 305-6716 barclay.sibl@hotmail.com
CSA DIRECTORS
Kyle Lewis Spruce Grove, AB P: (780) 220-9188 kyle@lewisfarms.ca
Blair McIntosh Maymont, SK C: (306) 441-7755 mcintoshlivestock@hotmail.com
Neil Carson Rossburn, MB, C: (204) 859-0105 neilcarson1973@gmail.com
Scott Matthews Cookshire-Eaton, QC C: (819) 993-5187 scottmatthews01@gmail.com
Leanna Mitchell Barriere, BC P: 250-318-5245 leannaflcc@outlook.com
Blair Williamson Lambton Shores, ON C: 519-808-0516 ridgeviewcattleco@gmail.com
Jennie Mutch Vernon, PEI C: (902) 388-1613 jenniemutch@gmail.com
PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATIONS
British Columbia Chet Jans President Groundbirch, BC 250-780-2141 chet@fallentimberfarms.com
Secretary: Leanna Mitchell Barrier, BC 250-318-5245 simmentalbc@gmail.com
Alberta President Reese Maxwell
Viking, AB P: (780) 385-5394 maxwellreece96@gmail.com
Secretary: Katie Deeg P: (403) 899-2291 albertasimmental@gmail.com
Saskatchewan President Kyron Manske Coronach, SK 306-267-7530
Kyron_manske@hotmail.com
Secretary: Carolyn McCormack P: (306) 697-2945 sasksimmental@yourlink.ca
Manitoba President Brooke Canart McAuley, MB P: (204) 851-2531 brookecanart@gmail.com
Secretary: Sandra Brigden Minnedosa MB P: (403) 638-7741 sandra.mbsimmental@gmail.com
Ontario President Dylan Foley Kanata, ON 613-913-9423 foleysimmentals@gmail.com Member Services Manager: memberservices.osa@gmail.com
Quebec
President - Stacy Young Brome, QC 780-718-0622 stacy.young@live.ca
Secretary: Kalie Dufault Calmut Island, QC 819-230-8951 asq-qsa@outlook.com
Maritimes
President Wade’s Loane Kilmuir, PE (902) 969-0397 whiskeyriver70@gmail.com
Secretary: Ella Lentz
Mount Uniacke, NS P: (902) 790-6823 ellalentz97@gmail.com
CSA STAFF CEO Roxane Lieverse 403-250-7979 rlieverse@simmental.com
Office Manager Barb Judd P: (403) 250-7979 bjudd@simmental.com
Programs Coordinator
Sue Giles P: (403) 793-0409 sgiles@simmental.com
Processing Department & Member Services
Perry Welygan pwelygan@simmental.com
Laurie Macdonald lmacdonald@simmental.com
Carrie MacDonald cmacdonald@simmental.com
Receptionist & Member Services
Devra Leavitt dleavitt@simmental.com
YCSA Coordinator Rae-Lee Erickson 587-223-2331 ycsacoordinator@simmental.com
Simmental Country Field Manager
Dwayne Martin 780-940-3510 dmartin@simmental.com
WHAT’S HAPPENING
AUGUST
Aug 5 – 9
Aug 5 - 9
Aug 8
Prince Albert Exhibition
Prince Albert, SK
Dawson Creek Exhibition
Dawson Creek, BC
Manitoba Field Day & AGM
Pilot Mound, MB
Aug 8 The QSA Annual Picnic Bristol, QC
Aug 14-16
North Peace Fall Fair
North Pine, BC
Aug 22-Sept 7 Pacific National Exhibition Vancouver, BC
SEPTEMBER
Sept 2-6
Sept 1
Armstrong IPE & Stampede Armstrong, BC
Canadian Sires September Online Semen Sale
DLMS.ca FarmGate Timed
Sept 3-7 Shawville Fair Shawville, QC
Sept 11-13
NB Ex Beef Show
Fredricton, NB
Sept 12 24th Annual Ontario Autum Simmental Classic Hanover, ON
Sept 19
Sept 24-27
Sept 25-27
Source for Success XXV Sale
Indian River, ON
BC Agricultural Expo
Barriere, BC
Classic Heritage Beef Show
Windsor, NS
Sept 24–27 Carpe Fair
Sept 24
Carpe, ON
Ultra Livestock Production Sale
Carstairs, AB
Sept 26 Ferme Gagnon & Guests 29th Annual Simmental Production Sale
Sept 27
OCTOBER
Cheneville, QC
Eastern Harvest 12th Annual Female Sale
Sainte-Sophie-de Lévrard, QC
Oct 3 Ontario Simmental Solution 9th Annual Sale Staffa, ON
Oct 3 Futures One Simmental Sale: Edition 17 Ennismore, ON
Oct 4 IRCC “Quality Control X” Female Sale Indian River, ON
Oct 5 Koyle/Stewart/Miller 4th Annual Online Sale
Iona Statikon, ON
Oct 6 Canadian Sires October Online Semen Sale
DLMS.ca FarmGate Timed
Oct 8 The Evolution: Volume 6
Oct 9
Oct 10-12
Oct 10
Oct 12
Oct 13
Lloydminster, SK
Anchor D “Pasture Treasures” Females Sale
Rimbey, AB
Expo Boeuf - National Simmental Show
Victoriaville, QC
Shades of Fall 3rd Annual Simmental Female Sale
Bentley, AB
Balamore Farms Shoreline Female Sale
Great Village, NS
Highwoods Family Affair Sale
DLMS.ca FarmGate Timed
Oct 15 Mader Ranches Ladies Night 2026 Edition Carstairs, AB
Oct 17
Oct 16–17
Oct 18
Oct 18
Oct 19
Oct 23
Oct 24
Oct 24
Oct 27–30
Oct 28-31
Stars of the Valley Simmental Sale Metcalfe, ON
NB Beef Expo Sussex, NB
RPCC & Guests “Fall Gala” 10th Production Sale Glencoe, ON
Raising The Bar Calumet Island, QC
Gilchrist Genetics Gems Female Sale Bluffton, AB
HILLSPRIDE FALL PRODUCTION SALE Havelock, QC
Quebec Elite Sale Shefford, QC
Leahy Livestock Select Bull & Female Sale Featuring Guest M&L Cattle Co. Indian River, ON
Lloydminster Stockade Roundup Lloydminster, SK
Manitoba Ag Ex Brandon, MB
Oct 28-Nov 1 Fraser Valley Junior Showdown Abbotsford, BC
Oct 31
Oct 31
Dudgeon Cattle Co. & Guest Top Cut Bred Heifer Sale Hanover, ON
Rich MC Family Event Sale
Pilot Mound, MB
NOVEMBER
Nov 3
Nov 4–7
Nov 5–8
Nov 7
Canadian Sires November Online Semen Sale
DLMS.ca FarmGate Timed
Yorkton Harvest Showdown Yorkton, SK
Farmfair International Edmonton, AB
Cherry Creek Farms Online Bulls & Female Sale
DLMS.ca
Nov 6–15
Nov 14
Nov 14
Royal Winter Fair
Toronto, ON
Cattlemans Choice Sale
Campbellford, ON
Transcon’s Western Harvest 13th Annual Simmental Female Sale
Didsbury, AB
Nov 14 Six Mile Ranch 2026 Genetic Focus Sale
Fir Mountain, SK
Nov 14-15
The Enhancement Angus & Simmental Frozen Genetic Sale
DLMS.ca
Nov 16 Rainbow River Simmentals Online Sale
DLMS.ca
Nov 19
Pembina Triangle Simmental Association 46th Annual Sale
Cypress River, MB
Nov 20 Ladies of the Peace 5th Annual Female Sale
Grand Prairie, AB
Nov 21 KSL Simmental Production Sale
Beaverlodge, AB
Nov 21 Prime Bred Heifer & Cow Sale
Hanover, ON
Nov 27 Lone Stone Farms Invitational Female Sale
Westlock, AB
Nov 23 – 28 Canadian Western Agribition Regina, SK
DECEMBER
Dec 1 Canadian Sires December Online Semen Sale
DLMS.ca FarmGate Timed
Dec 1 Keystone Konnection 48th Annual Simmental Sale
Brandon, MB
Dec 2 Country Classic Sale
Viking, AB
Dec 2 Maple Lake Stock Farms Fall Bred Heifer Sale Hartney, MB
Dec 3 Leading Ladies Female Sale
Spruce Grove, AB
Dec 3 Plesant Dawn 2nd Annual Female Sale
Oak Lake, MB
Dec 4 SimPower 11th Annual Female Sale
Olds, AB
Dec 7 Highway 21 Group Extra Age Bull & Commercial Bred Heifer Sale Hanna, AB
Dec 7 Northern Light Simmentals Bred Heifer & 2 year-old Bull Sale Rossburn, MB
Dec 8 Cream of the Crop Simmental Female Sale Minnedosa, MB
Dec 9
Dec 10
Dec 11
Dec 13
Premium Picks Simmental Female Sale
Minnedosa, MB
Transcon Simsational 49th Annual Simmental Sale
Moose Jaw, SK
OPT Bred For Success 3rd Female Event
Darlingford, MB
Bonchuk Farms Female Production Sale
Solsgirth, MB
Dec 14 JP Cattle/ Rocky Meadow Fall Bull & Commercial Female Sale Mcauley, MB
Dec 15
Dec 19
Dec 20
Dec 20
Southern Alberta Simmental Round Up 33rd Annual Bull & Female Sale
Stavely, AB
Transcon’s Fleckvieh Equation Fullblood Simmental Sale
Red Deer, AB
Transcon’s Ultimate Red & Black XXVIX Simmental Sale
Red Deer, AB
Transcon’s National Trust - On Ice Sale Online
Dec 21 Opportunity Knocks Sale 7.0
Dec 22
Dec 30
Lanigan, SK
Mar Mac Farms Sharing the Herd Simmental & Red Angus Dispersal Brandon, MB
Premier & Guests Falls View Production Sale Toronto, ON
BEEF UP YOUR BOTTOM LINE! & Sell your Simmental Influence Calves Yearlings Direct to buyers, in your sale
Benefits to Selling Online:
• Less stress, illness and shrink.
• No transportation costs to the seller.
• Delivery date and sale conditions set by the seller.
• Exposure to buyers from coast to coast.
• Accept or reject final bid, more control for you!
• Let us take care of the rest, settlement handled by TEAM
Join Us this Fall!
OCTOBER 2026
Saturday, October 10
Shades of Fall 3rd Annual Female Sale
Bentley, AB
Saturday, October 31 1st Annual Rich Mc Family Event Sale Pilot Mound, MB
NOVEMBER 2026
Saturday, November 14
Transcon’s Western Harvest 13th Annual Female Sale
Didsbury, AB
Friday, November 27 Lone Stone Farms Invitational Female Sale Westlock, AB
DECEMBER 2026
Tuesday, December 1
Thursday, December 3
Thursday, December 10
Tuesday, December 15
Saturday, December 19
Saturday, December 19
Saturday, December 19
Sunday, December 20
Keystone Konnection 48th Annual Simmental Sale
Brandon, MB
Pleasant Dawn 2nd Annual Female Sale Oak Lake, MB
Transcon’s Simmsational 49th Annual Simmental Sale
Moose Jaw, SK
Southern Alberta Simmental Round Up 33rd Annual Bull & Female Sale Stavely, AB
Transcon’s Fleckvieh Equation Fullblood Simmental Sale
Transcon’s Ultimate Red & Black XXVIX Simmental Sale
Transcon’s White Gold Charolais Sale
Red Deer, AB
Red Deer, AB
Red Deer, AB
Transcon’s National Trust - On Ice Sale ONLINE
